Yeven Metzulah, "tells extensively of the persecutions and wars in Russia, Lithuania and Poland", by R. Natan Nata Hannover. Venice: Vendramin, 1653. First edition, printed in the lifetime of the author.

An important chronicle of the history of the Chmielnicki massacres (1648-1649) and the wars in Russia, Lithuania and Poland, and the Tatar and Cossack Revolt led by Bogdan Chmielnicki.

The author, R. Natan Nata Hannover (d. 1683), author of Shaarei Tzion and Safah Berurah, was an eminent kabbalist who served as rabbi in Iziaslav, Livorno, Jassy and elsewhere (see Lots 36 and 179). He was an eyewitness to the destruction of Jewish communities in Poland in the years 1648-1649 and documented the events in the present work, which is one of the primary sources for the history of that period.

On the last page, a lamentation by the proofreader "Yaakov son of Naftali of Gniezno near Poznań" (this text forming the acrostic and printed in larger type; the lamentation within a decorated frame).

Signatures on title page: "I, Yosef Heilprun ---"; "--- Achiyah Segre".

12 leaves. 18.5 cm. Good-fair condition. Stains. Some tears, including open tear affecting text of one leaf. Title page repaired with paper strips to verso. New binding.